The links land at Ballybunion is
home to two tremendous courses, and while the Cashen Course is a links classic
in its own right, it’s the Old Course that has turned heads around the golfing
world since it took its form as an 18 hole championship test in 1926. For many,
just the name Ballybunion conjures up images of a wild links course, shaped by
nature and the sands of time, and the finished article certainly doesn’t disappoint.
This is a bona fide links classic and one that all serious golfers should tick
off their bucketlist and what’s more, it’s located within easy driving distance
of plenty of other top Irish courses, not to mention plenty of suitable
accommodation options, making it an ideal inclusion on any golf tour of the
south west.

Ballybunion Golf Club

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Golf Courses at Ballybunion Golf Club

Old Course

Starting with the clubhouse, which boasts a supremely friendly atmosphere, and is better equipped and more modern than you might think, Ballybunion offers the total package when it comes to a day’s golf. The practice facilities are excellent, with a large driving range just across the road from the clubhouse, and ample short game facilities on hand to allow you to get warmed up before heading to the 1st tee, and as we have already stated, the golf courses are superb.

The Old Course is perched in an idyllic position on the Shannon Estuary, offering not only a world class test of golf, but sweeping views of the rugged yet beautiful south west coast of Ireland. This is one of the world's best traditional links golf experiences and having been eased into the game through the 1st few holes, the course suddenly comes alive as you reach the 7th tee, just before you head into the awe-inspiring dunes that house the back nine.

The closing nine holes merely reflect the magnificent turf on which the Old Course has been laid out on; with fairways and green complexes following the lay of the land and testing the golfer to their limits, all the while traversing and being flanked by the ancient and enormous sand dunes that dominate the land.

At just 6,500 yards, the Old is not long, but there is a genuine premium placed on leaving your ball in the best place with the next shot in mind. Sometimes at Ballybunion, less is more and the golfing purists out there will love it. In fact five-time Open Championship winner Tom Watson, perhaps the most famous to endorse Ballybunion's undeniable quality, once said, "I am now of the opinion this is one of the best and most beautiful tests of links anywhere in the world."

STATS

Par: 71

Designed by: Tom Simpson

Opened for play: Club founded 1893 – Old Course upgraded to 18 holes in 1936

Previously hosted: Irish Open (2000)

TEES

Blue: 6,802 yards

White: 6,350 yards

Green: 6,060 yards

Reds: 5,475 yards

Signature Hole – No. 16: Par 5, 509 yards (Blue Tees)

There are many holes at Ballybunion which could rightly claim to offer a “signature” experience but for a small snapshot of what the course offers on the whole, the 16th is the one. Teeing off within touching distance of the ocean, you must either be brave and cut the corner of the dogleg, which makes the green reachable in two for the longer hitter, or lay back safely, tuning the hole into a certain three-shotter. From the corner of the dogleg, the hole turns inland and the fairway stretches uphill between two banks of enormous dunes. It’s all about accuracy from here and once on the green, golfers can turn and take in a magnificent ocean view before turning their attention back to the matter in hand...avoiding a dreaded three-putt!

This is a course for the golfing connoisseur, and fully justifies its position within the world's best 25 layouts.

Cashen Course

The Old
Course at Ballybunion was, needless to say, a tough act to follow so when
additional land was purchased in 1971, it was clear an architect with a recognised
track record of success was required. Robert Trent Jones Senior was the man
chosen and his Cashen Course is proof enough that he was certainly up to the
task.

The
course opened for play in 1982, and perhaps because of the lofty reputation of
the Old Course, it sometimes doesn’t get the credit it deserves. Set amongst
even bigger dunes than those on the Old, the Cashen takes its place on a
perfect patch of links land between the crashing Atlantic Ocean and the River
Cashen.

Just like
the old, the course simply follows the lay of the land and while it’s a few hundred
yards shorter in length than its illustrious neighbour, many who’ve played both
would suggest the Cashen is more difficult. If you get the chance to play both
on your golf tour of the south west coast of Ireland, do so because since its
inception in the early 80s, the Cashen has only served to build upon
Ballybunion's deserved reputation as a must play for any golf aficionado.

STATS

Par: 71

Designed by: Robert Trent Jones Senior

Opened for play: 1982

TEES

Blue: 6,306 yards

White: 5,997 yards

Green: 5,680 yards

Reds: 5,031 yards

Signature Hole– No. 15: Par 5, 487 yards (Blue Tees)

The 15th is a beautiful par 5 which, while not being long be any
stretch of the imagination, is very demanding as it snakes its way between a
myriad of massive dunes, before climbing towards the ocean and onto the
elevated green. This hole is all about course management and requires straight
hitting to make your score.

Due to
the elevated green, which is well protected by the dunes and a dramatic false
front, the prudent play is to lay up with your second shot and trust your
pitching skills. Either way you choose to play the hole, the sheer drama
on offer here adds lots of excitement.

Features

Driving Range

Pro Shop

Putting Greens

Club House

Championship Standard Course

Ballybunion Golf Club Reviews

Bob

I loved the coastal holes on the back 9...
October 2014

Having heard so much about the course I really wanted to give it 5 stars. However, as majestic as the back 9 undoubtedly is, I felt that the front 9 was a little bit ordinary. I loved the coastal holes on the back 9 but wasn't too sure about the couple of front 9 holes where tee shots had to be played over the previously vacated greens. All in all certainly worth playing but not quite what I expected it to be as a total package.

Derek

The back nine holes are classic links and truly spectacular...
September 2014

This was my first visit to Ballybunion and thankfully I managed to clear the graveyard to the right of the first fairway...just! The first nine are good holes but marred by two ugly caravan parks across the road. This obviously isn't the course's fault as it was there before the caravans arrived but some screening, even if it were with a row of dreaded fir trees, would be preferable. The back nine holes are classic links and truly spectacular...worth the visit alone. As with all the clubs we visited on our tour, the staff were welcoming and helpful and added much to the experience.

Rory

As testing as it is beautiful...
September 2014

I've just got back from an awesome tour of the South West coast of
Ireland and Ballybunion was the perfect curtain raiser. With such a lofty reputation, I
was expecting great things from Ballybunion and for a few holes I was left
puzzled as to where the reputation had come from. The opening holes are by no means weak holes but lack a bit of the wow factor I had heard of. However, having reached the 7th – a quirky hole with two separate greens – it was clear we were about
to enter the colossal sand dunes on the back nine which is where the
Ballybunion magic becomes apparent.

Having made its way down to the coast and the dunes that run along the shore, the course transforms
into an unforgettable gem. The natural undulations and elevation changes of the
dunes are quite breathtaking and make the course as testing as it is beautiful and with a classic closing
stretch – the final four holes are simply amazing – Ballybunion ensures it
lingers in the mind long after you’ve enjoyed a well deserved pint of Guinness
on the veranda while overlooking the course.

This is without doubt one of the most charming links courses I have played and I would certainly reccommend it to any serious golfers heading to the South West of Ireland. Just be patient with the opening holes because the
wait for the back nine is worth it.

Alastair

The best course I have played...

I would say Ballybunion is the best course I have played. It has about 14 amazing holes where you just stand on the tee and think wow!!